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LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

University  of  California. 

Class         ^^^/ 

YALE  STUDIES   IN   ENGLISH 
ALBERT   S.   COOK,  Editor 

XXI 
THE 

Elene  of  Cynewulf 


TRANSLATED  INTO  ENGLISH  PROSE 

BY 

LUCIUS   HUDSON    HOLT 

PORTER  FELLOW  IN  ENGLISH  IN  YALE  UNIVERSITY 


NEW  YORK 

HENRY    HOLT   AND   COMPANY 

1904 


YALE  STUDIES    IN   ENGLISH 
ALBERT   S.    COOK,  Editor 

^        XXI 
THE 

Elene  of  Cynewulf 


TRANSLATED    INTO   ENGLISH    PROSE 

BY 

LUCIUS    HUDSON    HOLT 

PORTER  FELLOW  IN  ENGLISH  IN  YALE  UNIVERSITY 


NEW   YORK 

HENRY    HOLT   AND   COMPANY 

1904 


^f' 


".  .^zi^-^i^uJ  .yut^/^ny » yco/i^ 


h/ 


V^ 


-  PREFACE 

This  translation  was  made  from  the  edition  of 
the  Elene  issued  by  Charles  W.  Kent  in  1889 
(Ginn  &  Co.,  Boston).  His  text  is  'that  of 
Zupitza's  second  edition,  carefully  compared  with 
Wiilker's  edition  and  Zupitza's  third  edition,  in 
which  the  results  of  Napier's  collation  are  con- 
tained.' 

The  aim  of  this  translation  is  to  give  an  accu- 
rate and  readable  modern  English  prose  rendering 
of  the  Old  English  poetry.  The  translation  of 
Richard  Francis  Weymouth,  entitled  A  Literal 
Translation  of  Cynewulfs  Elene j  has  been  at 
hand,  but  I  owe  it  practically  nothing  in  this  work. 
While  I  trust  that  my  rendering  has  not  departed 
so  far  from  the  text  that  it  will  be  valueless  to 
the  student,  yet  at  places  it  will  be  found  that  I 
have  to  some  extent  expanded  or  contracted  the 
literal  translation  in  the  hope  of  benefiting  the 
modern  English  version. 

My  thanks  are  due  to  Dr.  Robert  K.  Root  and 
Dr.  Chauncey  B.  Tinker  of  Yale  University,  and  to 
Dr.  Charles  H.  Whitman  of  Lehigh  University,  for 
examining  part  of  the  work  in  manuscript,  and  to 
Dr.  Albert  S.  Cook  of  Yale  University  for  a  care- 
ful reading  of  the  proof. 

Lucius  Hudson  Holt. 

New  Haven, 

January  i,  1904. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


ELENE 


I.     The  Emperor  Constantine. 

There  had  passed  in  the  turn  of  years,  as  men 
mark  the  tale  of  time,  two  hundred  and  thirty  and 
three  winters  over  the  world  since  the  Lord  God,    t^3<^ 
the  Glory  of  kings  and  Light  of  the  faithful,  was 
born  on  earth  in  human  guise;  and  it  was  the  sixth    5 
year  of  the  reign  of  Constantine  since  he  was  raised 
in  the  realm  of  the  Romans  to  lead  their  army,  a 
prince  of  battles.     He  was  a  bulwark  to  his  people,  10 
valiant  with  the  shield,  and  gracious  to  his  heroes; 
and  the  prince's  realm  waxed  great  beneath  the 
heavens.      He  was  a  just  king,  a  war-lord  of  men. 
God  strengthened  him  with  majesty  and  might  till  15 
he  became  a  joy  to  many  men  throughout  the  world, 
an  avenger  for  his  people  when  he  raised  aloft  his 
spear  against  their  foes. 


2.     The  War  with  the  Barbarians. 

And  battle  was  brought  on  him,  the  tumult  of 
strife.  The  people  of  the  Huns  and  famous  Goths  20 
gathered  a  host  together;  and  the  Franks  and 
Hugas  marched  forth,  men  fierce  in  fight  and  ripe 
for  war.  The  spears  and  woven  mail-coats  glit- 
tered, as  with  shouts  and  clash  of  shields  they 
lifted  up  on  high  the  standard  of  battle.  Openly  2  5 
the  fighters  gathered  all  together,  and  the  throng 
marched  forth.     The  wotf  in  the  wood  howled  his 


6  ELENE. 

war-song,  and  hid  not  his  secret  hopes  of  carnage; 

30  and  at  the  rear  of  the  foe  the  dewy-feathered  ea^le 
shrieked  his  note  on  high. 

A  mighty  host  hastened  to  war  through  the  cities, 
gleaned  from  all  the  men  the  Hunnish  king  could 
summon  from  the  near-lying  towns.     A  vast  army 

35  sallied  forth- — bands  of  picked  horsemen  strength- 
ened the  force  of  the  foot-soldiers — until  within  a 

I     foreign  land  upon  the  bank  of  the  Danube  these 

'  stout-souled  brandishers  of  the  spear  pitched  their 
camp  near  the  water's  flow,  amid  the  tumult  of  the 

40  army.  They  longed  to  overrun  the  realm  of  the 
Romans,  and  lay  it  waste  with  their  hordes. 

Then  were  the  dwellers  in  the  cities  aware  of  the 
Huns'  coming.  And  the  emperor  straightway  bad^ 
summon  with  the  greatest  speed  by  dispatch  of  the 
arrow  his  heroes  to  war  against  the  foes;  bade  lead 

45  out  to  battle  the  warriors  beneath  the  heavens. 
Their  hearts  inspired  by  victory,  the  Roman  heroes 
were  soon  girt  with  weapons  for  the  fight,  though 
they  had  a  lesser  host  for  battle  than  circled  about 

50  the  proud  king  of  the  Huns.  Then  the  shields 
rang,  the  wood  of  war  clashed;  the  king  with  the 
host,  his  army,  marched  forth  to  strife,  and  over 
their  heads  the  raven  wailed,  dark,  and  thirsting  for 
the  slaughter.  The  army  was  moving — trumpeters 
leaped,    heralds    shouted    commands,    and    horses 

55  stamped  the  earth.  Hastily  the  multitude  enrankecj 
itself  for  strife. 

But  the  king  was  fear-smitten,  awed  with  terror, 
as  he  looked  upon  the  hostile  host,  the  army  of  the 
Huns  and  Goths,  that  upon  the  river's  bank  at  the 

60  boundary  of  the  Roman  realm  was  massing  its 
strength,  an  uncounted  multitude.     The  king  of  the 


ELENE. 


Romans  suffered  bitter  grief  of  soul,  and  hoped  not 
for  his  kingdom  because  of  his  small  host;  he  had 
too  few  warriors,  trusty  thanes,  to  encounter  the 
overmight  of  brave  men  in  battle.  6  5 


3.     The  Dream. 

The  army  encamped  near  at  hand  beside  the  river, 
nobles  about  their  prince,  for  the  space  of  a  single  . 
night  after  they  first  beheld  the  course  of  their  foes. 
Then  unto  the  emperor  himself  in  his  sleep,  as  he  7^ 
slumbered   among  his   retinue,    was   disclosed  the 
marvel  of  a  dream,   shown  unto  him  with   soul 
uplifted    in   the  hope    of   victory.      Him   thought 
there  appeared  before  him  in  the  form  of  a  man 
a   certain    warrior,    radiant,    resplendent,    brilliant, 
more    glorious    than    he   ever    beheld    'neath    the 
heavens,  before  or  since.      Then,   dight  with  his  75 
boar-crested  helmet,  he  started  up  from   slumber, 
and  straightway  the  messenger,  a  bright  herald  of 
glory,  spake  unto  him  and  called  him  by  his  name, 
while  the  veil  of  night  parted  asunder :    *0  Con-    ^ 
stantine,  the  King  of  angels,  Wielder  of  fates  and 
Lord  of  hosts,   hath  commanded  to  offer  thee  a  80 
covenant.     Fear  thou  not,  though  foreign  peoples 
threaten  thee  with  terror  and  bitter  strife.      Look 
to  heaven,  unto  the  Lord  of  glory.      There  shalt 
thou  find  aid  and  the  token  of  victory.'  85 

He  was  soon  ready  at  the  holy  one's  behest;  he 
opened  wide  the  secret  places  of  his  heart;  he  gazed 
on  high,  as  the  messenger,  faithful  weaver  of  peace, 
had  bidden  him.  Over  the  roof  of  clouds  he  saw 
the  beauteous  tree  of  glory,  gleaming  with  treas- 
ure and  decked  with  gold — and  the  gems  shone  90 


8  ELENE. 

brightly.  The  shining  tree  was  inscribed  with  let- 
ters of  brilliance  and  light:  'By  this  sign  thou 
shalt  overcome  the  foe  in  the  dread  peril;  by  this 
thou  shalt  stay  the  hated  host.' 

95  Then  the  light  vanished,  ascended  up  on  high, 
and  together  with  it  the  messenger,  unto  the  throng 

^  of  the  pure  ones.  And  the  king,  the  leader  of  men, 
was  the  blither  and  the  freer  from  grief  in  his  heart 
by  reason  of  that  fair  vision. 


4.     The  Battle. 

Then  Constantine,  bulwark  of  heroes  and  givei* 

1 00  of  gifts,  battle-prince  of  armies  and  glorious  king, 
bade  fashion  with  greatest  haste  a  token  like  unto 
that  sign  he  had  seen,  which  had  been  disclosed 
before  him   in  the  heavens,   the   cross   of   Christ. 

105  And  at  dawn,  with  the  first  gleam  of  day,  he  bade 
rouse  the  warriors  and  make  ready  for  the  stress  of 
fight,  lift  up  the  emblem  of  battle,  take  the  holy 
tree  before  them,  and  bear  the  sign  of  God  into 
the  press  of  their  foes. 

no  The  trumpets  rang  loud  at  the  army's  front. 
The  raven  rejoiced  at  the  move;  the  dewy-feathered 
eagle  scanned  the  march,  the  strife  of  battle-heated 
men;  and  the  wolf,  fellow  of  the  forest,  raised  his 
song.     Rife  was  the  dread  terror  of  battle. 

Then  there  Vvas  the  clash  of  shields  and  the  shock 

1 1 5  of  men,  the  bitter  hand-to-hand  struggle  and  the 
slaughter  of  hosts,  when  once  they  had  passed  within 
an  arrow's  flight.  On  the  fated  folk  dire  enemies 
hurled  a  shower  of  darts,  and  with  might  of  arm 
sent  their  spears,  biting  battle-adders,  over  the  yel- 

120I0W  shields  into  the  midst  of  their  foes.     But  with 


'  \' 


ELENE.  9 

courage  undaunted  the  other  host  advanced;  from 
time  to  time  they  surged  forward,  broke  the  ram- 
part of  shields,  thrust  their  swords  between,  and 
sternly  kept  their  way. 

Then  was  the  standard,  the  token,  raised  before 
the   armies,   and   they  chanted  the  victors'    song. 
Over  the  field  of  battle  gleamed  spears  and  hel-  125 
mets  of  gold.     The  pagan  host  was  conquered;   in 
jmerciless  strife  they  fell.     As  the  king_o£  the  Ro- 
mans, dauntless  in  battle,  bade  raise  that  holy  tree, 
the  "peoples  of  the  Huns  straight  fled  away,  and 
their  warriors  were  scattered  far  and  wide.     Some  i  jo 
perished  in  the  fight,  some  saved  themselves  hardly 
on  the  march,  some,  with  life  half-ebbed,  fled  to 
fastnesses  and  nursed  their  strength  behind  barren 
rocks,  some  seized  the  land  near  theJDanube,  and  135 
some  were  finally  drowned  in  the  river's  current. 
Then  was  the  army  of  valiant  heroes  rejoiced,  and 
from  break  of  day  until  eve  they  followed  hard 
upon  the  foreign  foe,  while  the  spears  flew,  biting  140 
battle-adders.     The  horde  of  hated  shield-bearers 
was  lessened;    but  few  of  the  army  of  Huns  re- 
turned thence  home  again. 

Then  was  manifest  from  that  day's  deed  that 
the  King  Almighty  gave  unto  Constantine  victory,  145 
glorious  honor,  and  a  realm  beneath  the  heavens,. 
through  his  holy  rood^And  he,  renowned  in  bat- 
tle,   a   bulwark  oF"  armies,    returned   thence  home 
again  when  the  war  was  decided,  exulting  in  his 
spoil.     Famed  in  the  fight,  a  defense  for  heroes,  the  1 50 
king  came  with  a  throng  of  thanes  to  visit  his 
cities  and  stud  his  shield  with  jewels. 


lo  ELENE. 

5.     The  Assembly. 

Then  the  Lord  of  men  straight  summoned/  the 
wisest  to  council,  those  who  had  pondered  the  craft 

155  of  wisdom  in  writings  of  old  and  held  nobly  to 
the  rede  of  scholars.  And  the  prince  of  the  people, 
victory-inspired  king,  asked  through  the  vast  assem- 
bly if  there  were  any  man  there  could  tell  and  declare 

160  unto  him  truly  who  the  god  was,  giver  of  good 
gifts,  'whose  sign  this  was  which  appeared  unto 
me  so  bright,  the  most  gleaming  of  tokens,  saved 
my  people,  and  gave  unto  me  glory  and  war-speed 

165  against  my  foes  through  the  holy  tree.' 

But  no  one  of  them  could  give  him  any  answei* 
in  return,  nor  knew  they  full  well  what  to  say  about 
the  victor-tree.     Then  spake  the  wisest  before  the 

1 70  multitudes,  and  said  that  it  was  a  sign  from  the  King 
of  heaven,  and  of  that  there  could  be  no  doubt. 

6.     The  Conversion  of  Constantine. 

But  they  who  had  learned  the  truth,  who  were 
taught  through  baptism,  were  joyful  in  soul,  and 

175  their  hearts  were  light  that  they  might  declare  be- 
fore the  emperor  the  grace  of  the  gospel :  how  the 
Saviour  of  souls,  revered  in  threefold  majesty,  was 
born ;  how  God's  own  Son  was  hung  upon  the  cross 

1 80  in  bitter  agony  before  the  multitudes;  how  He  freed 
the  children  of  men  and  souls  of  the  careworn  from 
the  snares  of  devils,  and  gave  unto  them  grace 
through  the  very  thing  that  had  been  disclosed  to 
his  own  sight  as  a  sign  of  victory  against  the  on- 

185  rush  of  foes;  and  how  on  the  third  day  the  Glory 
of  men  and  Lord  of  all  mankind  rose  from  the 
tomb  and  from  death,  and  ascended  into  heaven. 


ELENE.  1 1 

Men  wise  in  the  mystic  things  of  the  Spirit  thus  said 
unto  the  victory-inspired  monarch  as  they  had  190 
learned  from  Silvester.  And  at  their  hands  the 
prince  of  the  people  received  baptism,  and  held  to 
the  faith  according  to  the  will  of  the  Lord  from  that 
time  forth  throughout  the  length  of  his  days. 

Then  was  the  giver  of  gifts  content,  the  king 
stern  in  battle;   a  new  joy  was  come  into  his  heart.  195 
The  Lord  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  his  great- 
est solace  and  his  highest  hope.     Through  the  grace 
of  the  Spirit  he  began  zealously  to  show  forth  the 
law  of  the  Lord  both  day  and  night,  and  this  ruler 
of  men  devoted  himself,  far-famed  and  weariless,  200 
unto  the  service  of  God.     Then  the  prince,  bulwark 
of  peoples,  brave  in  battle  and  bold  with  the  spear* 
found  in  the  books  of  God  with  the  aid  of  his 
teachers  that  country  where,  amid  the  shouts  of  mul-  \  ^ 
titudes,  the  Ruler  of  the  heavens  was  crucified  upon  205 
the  cross  through  sinful  hate;    even  as  the  ancient 
enemy  with  lying  craft  led  astray  the  people,  de- 
ceived the  race  of  the  Jews,  until  they  crucified  God 
himself,  the  Lord  of  hosts;    wherefore  they  shall  210 
suffer  a  direful  curse  in  misery  through  a  long- 
enduring  life.  ; 


7.     The  Journey  of  Elene. 

Then  was  the  laud  of  Christ  in  the  heart  of  the 
emperor,  and  he  was  ever  mindful  of  that  glorious 
tree.  And  he  bade  his  mother  fare  unto  the  Jews 
upon  a  journey  with  a  throng  of  people,  and  zeal-  2 1 5 
ously  with  her  band  of  heroes  to  seek  where  the 
holy  tree  of  glory,  the  rood  of  the  King,  was  hid 
beneath  the  earth. 


-0, 


12  ELENE. 

2 20  Nor  would  Elene  slight  such  a  journey,  nor  be 
heedless  of  the  word  of  the  prince  her  son;  but 
the  woman  was  soon  ready  for  the  welcome  way, 
as  the  bulwark  of  heroes  and  mail-clad  warriors 

225  had  bidden  her.  And  thereupon  throngs  of  nobles 
made  ready  for  the  voyage  over  the  ocean.  The 
ships  stood  ready  by  the  shores  of  the  sea,  bound 
ocean-coursers  resting  on  the  deep. 

And  the  journey  of  the  queen  was  plainly  mani- 

230  fest  when  she  sought  the  swell  of  the  ocean  with 
her  company;  many  a  noble  stood  there,  near  to^ 
the  water's  edge,  and  from  time  to  time  crowds  of 
men  pressed  across  the  way. 

Then  they    loaded  the   ships   with   battle-dress, 

235  shields  and  spears;  mail-clad  warriors  and  men  and 
women  embarked  thereon.  And  they  let  the  steep 
ocean-speeders  course  over  the  foamy  deep;  often 
the  hull  bore  the  shock  of  the  billows  on  the  ocean- 

240  way,  and  the  sea  raised  her  song.     Never  heard 

I  before  nor  since  of  woman  leading  a  fairer  force 

^    upon  the  paths  of  the  ocean,  the  streams  of  the  deep. 

There  one  might  see,  if  he  beheld  that  voyage,  ships 

245  cleave  the  watery  way  and  haste  beneath  swelling 
sails,  sea-coursers  leap,  and  wave-floaters  speed  ahead. 
The  proud  warriors  were  glad;  the  queen  rejoiced 
in  the  journey. 

When  the  ring-prowed  ships  had  reached  their 

250  harbor  in  the  land  of  the  Greeks  over  the  fastness' 
of  flood,  they  left  their  vessels,  their  olden  waters 
homes,  lashed  by  the  sea,  bound  with  anchors,  to 
await  upon  the  surging  deep  the  fate  of  the  men, 

255  when  the  warrior  queen  with  her  band  of  heroes 
should  again  seek  the  eastern  ways.  Many  a 
woven  corselet,  trusty  sword,  and  glittering  battle- 


ELENE.  13 

sark,  many  a  helmet  and  glorious  boar-crest,  were 
there  to  be  seen  among  the  warriors.  The  spear-  260 
men,  heroes  about  their  queen,  were  eager  for  the 
march.  The  brave  fighters,  heralds  of  the  em-  ^ 
peror,  warriors  clad  in^  armor,  went  forth  rejoicing 
into  the  land  of  the  Greeks.  Many  a  gold-set 
jewel,  the  gift  of  their  prince,  was  to  be  seen  there 
among  the  company.  265 

But  the  blessed  Elene,  zealous  and  earnest  of  pur- 
pose, was  mindful  of  her  lord's  will  that  over  fields 
of  battle  she  should  seek  the  land  of  the  Jews  with 
her  trusty  band  of  shield-bearers,  her  company  of  270 
spearmen;  and  so  it  befell  within  a  little  space 
thereafter  that  the  multitude  of  men,  heroes  famed 
in  war  and  chieftains  of  spear-renown,  entered  into  ,' 

the  city  of  Jerusalem  in  a  vast  throng  with  the 
noble  queen.  275 

8.     The  Councils  of  the  Jews. 

Then  she  bade  summon  the  wisest  of  the  dwellers 
in  the  cities  among  the  Jews,  far  and  wide,  each 
man  of  them,  to  come  unto  a  council  for  deliberar 
tion,  those  who  knew  how  to  expound  justly  and 
fully  the  hidden  things  of  God.  And  there  was  280 
gathered  together  from  far  ways  no  small  multitude 
of  those  who  could  expound  the  law  of  Moses. 
They  were  in  number  three  thousand  men,  chosen  285  S  ocf  o 
for  teaching. 

Then  the  well-beloved  woman  spake  unto  the 
men  of  the  Hebrews  in  these  words : — 'This  have  I 
learned  well  by  the  mystic  sayings  of  prophets  in 
the  books  of  God,  that  in  days  of  yore  ye  were  290 
dear  unto  the  King  of  glory,  loved  of  the  Lord 


14  ELENE. 

and  strong  in  his  service.      And  lo!    ye  of  this 
knowledge  unwisely  and  perversely  cast  Him  forth/ 
when  ye  cursed  Him  who  thought  to  loose  you  from 

295  your  curse,  your  torture  of  fire,  your  servile  bond- 
age, through  the  might  of  His  glory.     Foully  ye  / 
spat  upon  the  face  of  Him  who  by  his  noble  spittle^- 

300  wrought  anew  the  light  of  your  eyes,  the  cure  of 
your  blindness,  and  saved  you  oft  from  the  unclean 
spirits  of  devils.  Ye  doomed  Him  to  death  who 
among  a  multitude  of  men  roused  from  death  itself 

305  unto  their  former  life  a  number  of  your  own  race. 
Ye  blind  of  soul,  thus  have  ye  confounded  false 
with  sooth,  light  with  darkness,  hate  with  reverence, 
and  have  woven  a  crime  from  your  evil  thoughts. 
Therefore  doth  this  curse  weigh  you  down  in  your 

3 10  sin — ye  judged  that  pure  Power,  and  until  this  day" 
ye  have  lived  with  clouded  thoughts  in  heresy.  Go' 
ye  now  quickly,  and  think  upon  the  men  most  sage 
in  wisdom  and  skilled  in  speech,  who,  versed  in  the 

315  knowledge  of  your  law,  hold  it  foremost  in  their 
hearts,  and  who  may  declare  unto  me  truly  and 
devise  an  answer  for  each  token  whereof  I  may 
ask  them.' 

320  Then,  sorely  grieved  and  saddened,  and  burdened 
with  fear,  the  men  wise  in  law  went  apart,  and  ear- 
nestly sought  the  deepest  mystic  words  wherewith 
they  might  answer  the  queen  whatsoever  she  asked 

325  of  them,  whether  of  good  or  of  bad.      And  they 
\  r^"'^         found  among  their  number  a  thousand  of  exceeding- 
wisdom,  who  most  fully  knew  the  traditions  of  old 
among  the  Jews.     In  a  great  crowd  they  hastened 

330  to  where,  upon  a  royal  throne  in  majesty,  the  kins- 
woman of  the  emperor  waited,  a  stately  queen  of 
battle  adorned  with  gold.     And  Elene  spake  before 


ELENE.  15 

the  folk: — 'Hearken,  ye  wise  of  soul,  unto  a  holy 
mystery,  the  word  and  the  wisdom.     Lo !  ye  had  the 
teaching  of  prophets  how  the  Prince  of  life  and  Lord  335 
of  might  should  be  born  in  the  likeness  of  a  child. 
Of  him  sang  Moses,  leader  of  the  Israelites,  and 
spake  this  word: — ^^nto  you  is  born  a  child  of 
wondrous  might  in  mystery,  for  his  mother  con-  340 
ceived  him  not  through  the  love  of  man."     Of  him 
king  David,  father  of  Solomon,  ruler  of  men,  a 
prophet  with  the  wisdom  of  age,  chanted  a  psalm 
and  spake  this  word : — "In  times  afore  I  beheld  the  345 
God  of  creation,  the  Lord  of  victories.     He  was 
before  my  sight  upon  my  right  hand,  the  King  of 
might  and  Prince  of  majesty.     Thence  will  I  never 
turn   my   eyes  more  unto  life."      Likewise  again  350 
Isaiah  the  prophet,  deeply  moved  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  spake  concerning  you  before  the  multitudes  in 
these  words:  "I  raised  up  sons  and  I  begat  children, 
and  unto  them  I  gave  possessions,  and  holy  balm 
for  their  souls ;    but  they  scorned  me,  loathed  me  355 
with  their  hate,  and  they  had  no  forethought,  no 
skill  of  wisdom.     Even  the  wretched  oxen,  which 
man  doth  each  day  drive  and  beat,  know  their  well- 
wisher,  and  in  their  revenge  for  wrong  hate  not 
their  friend  who  giveth  them  fodder.      But  never  360 
would  the  men  of  the  Israelites  take  knowledge  of 
me,   though    I   wrought   many   wonders   for   them 
throughout  my  Hfe  in  the  world."  j  Lo!   this  have 
we  learned  in  holy  books,  that  God  the  Creator 
gave  unto  you  spotless  glory  and  wealth  of  power,  365 
and  said  unto  Moses  how  ye  should  hearken  unto 
the  King  of  heaven,  and  follow  His  teaching.     But 
ye  soon  became  weary  of  this,  and  withstood  that 
righteous  one;    ye  scorned  the  pure  Maker  of  all, 


1 6  ELENE. 

370  the  Lord  of  lords,  and  pursued  error  against  the 
law  of  God.  Now  go  ye  quickly  and  find  once 
more  those  who  know  best  by  wisdom's  craft  the 

375  ancient  scriptures,  your  righteous  law,  that  with 
depth  of  soul  they  may  give  me  answer.' 

Then  a  throng  of  the  proud  leaders,  saddened  in 
heart,  went  forth  as  the  queen  had  bidden  them, 
and  found  five  hundred  wise  men  of  their  own  race 

380  who  held  learning  in  their  memory,  most  wisdom 
in  their  mind.  And  again  v/ithin  a  little  space  the 
lords  of  the  city  were  summoned  unto  the  hall.     And 

385  the  queen,  looking  upon  them  all,  spake  unto  them 
in  these  words: — 'Oft  have  ye  wrought  foolish 
deeds,  ye  wretched  in  misfortune,  and  scorned  the 
Scriptures,  the  lore  of  your  fathers,  but  never  worse 
than  now  when  ye  have  refused  the  cure  of  your 

390  blindness,  and  withstood  the  truth  and  the  right — 
that  the  Son  of  the  Mighty  One,  the  only-begotten 
Ruler  and  King  of  kings,  was  born  in  Bethlehem. 
Though  ye  knew  the  law,  the  words  of  the  prophets, 
yet  because  of  your  sin  ye  have  not  been  willing  to 

395  confess  the  truth.' 

And  with  one  accord  they  answered: — *Lo!  we 
have  learned  the  Hebrew  law  that  from  the  ark 
of  God  our  fathers  knew  in  days  of  yore;  but  we 
know  not  in  sooth  wherefore,  O  lady,  thou  hast 

400  become  thus  angry  with  us.  We  know  not  the  sin 
that  we  have  wrought  in  this  province,  the  wrong 
we  have  ever  done  to  thee.' 

Then  Elene  spake  before  the  people  openly,  before 

405  the  multitudes  this  woman  spake  aloud : — 'Go  ye 
now  quickly,  and  seek  far  and  near  those  who  have 
the  power  of  wisdom  and  the  most  skill  of  thought 
among  you,  that  they  may  show  forth  to  me  with- 

410  out  reserve  whatsoever  I  ask  of  them.' 


ELENE.  17 

And  they  went  forth  from  the  council  as  the 
mighty  queen,  strong  in  her  cities,  had  bidden  them, 
and  earnestly  pondered,  sad  of  heart,  and  sought 
shrewdly  what  that  sin  might  be  that  they  had  41 5 
wrought  in  the  province  against  the  emperor,  where- 
with the  queen  reproached  them. 

9.     The  Speech  of  Judas. 

And  there  spake  before  the  people  one  learned  in 
ancient  writings  and  wise  of  speech  (his  name  was 
Judas)  : — 'I  know  well  that  she  wishes  to  ask  con-  420 
cerning  that  victor-tree  whereon  suffered  the  Lord 
of  hosts,  God's  own  Son,  guiltless  of  all  evil.  Him 
whom,  unspotted  with  any  sin,  our  fathers  in  days  42  5 
of  yore  hung  upon  the  high  cross  through  hate — 
fearful  was  that  thought !     Now  is  there  great  need 
that  we  steadfastly  fortify  our  minds  not  to  betray       ...- 
that  murder,  nor  declare  where  the  holy  tree  was 
hid  after  the  stress  of  strife,  lest  thereby  the  wise430 
writings  of  old  be  cast  aside,  and  the  lore  of  our  -' 
fathers  forsaken.     For  if  this  shall  be  known,  it  will 
not  be  long  that  the  race  of  the  Israelites  and  the 
faith  of  the  Jews  shall  hold  sway  over  the  world.  435 
Thus  once  my  father's  father,  prophet  with  the  wis- 
dom of  age  and  far-famed  in  victory — his  name  was 
Zaccheus — gave  like  counsel  unto  my  father  and 
spake  this  word,  which  in  after  times  he  himself  told 
to  his  son,  as  he  turned  him  from  the  world : — 'If  in  440 
the  days  of  thy  life  it  happen  that  thou  hear  sage 
men  ask  of  the  holy  tree  and  stir  up  strife  concern- 
ing the   rood  of  victory   whereon  the   true  King 
'  was  crucified.   Lord  of   heaven  and   Child   of  all  445 
peace,  then  do  thou,  my  dear  son,  ere  death  snatch 


1 8  ELENE. 

thee  off,  quickly  declare  that  never  shall  the  people 
of  the  Hebrews,  taking  wise  counsel  together,  hold 

450  sway  and  rule  over  men,  but  the  glory  and  kingdom 
shall  endure  of  those  who,  filled  with  gladness  from 
age  to  age,  revere  and  love  the  crucified  King."  ' 

45  5  Then  I  boldly  gave  answer  unto  my  father,  the 
aged  counselor: — "How  came  it  to  pass  in  the 
kingdom  of  the  world  that  with  wrathful  intent 
our  fathers  laid  hands  on  the  Holy  One  to  put  him 

460  to  death,  if  they  had  knowledge  that  he  was  Christ, 
the  King  upon  the  cross,  true  Son  of  the  Creator, 
and  Saviour  of  souls?"  ' 

'And  my  parent  gave  answer  unto  me,  wisely  my 
father  spake: — "Recognize,  O  youth,  the  surpass- 
ing power  of  God,  the  name  of  the  Saviour  which 

465  may  not  be  expressed  by  any  man.  No  man  on 
earth  can  search  it  out.  Never  would  I  visit  the 
council   which  this   people  held,   but   I   ever  kept 

470  myself  aloof  from  their  sin,  nor  wrought  shame 
unto  my  soul  in  any  way.  Many  times  I  earnestly 
withstood  the  unrighteous  act  when  the  wise  men 
sat  in  council,  and  sought  in  their  heart  how  they 

475  might  crucify  the  Son  of  the  Creator,  the  Bulwark 
of  men  and  Lord  of  all,  of  angels  and  of  mortals, 
the  most  noble  of  heroes." 

'  "But  these  foolish  and  wretched  men  could  not 
bring  death  upon  Him  as  they  weened,  nor  beset  Him 
about  with  agony,  though  He,  the  victorious  Son  of 

480, God,  for  a  little  while  yielded  up  His  ghost  upon 

the  cross.     Then  the  King  of  the  heavens,  the  Glory 

I    of  all  glory,  was  raised  from  off  the  rood,  and  abode 

three  nights  in  the  tomb,  within  the  place  of  dark- 

485  ness;  and  upon  the  third  day  He  arose  living.  Light 
of  all  light  and  Lord  of  angels,  and  revealed  him- 


ELENE.  19 

self  unto  His  followers,  the  true  Prince  of  victory, 
resplendent  in  glory.  Then  after  a  little  space, 
Stephen,  thy  brother,  received  the  bath  of  baptism,  490 
the  faith  of  joy,  and  for  the  love  of  the  Lord  he 
was  stoned.  Yet  he^gave  not  evil  for  evil,  but  in 
patient  suffering  made  intercession  for  his  ancient 
foes,  and  prayed  the  King  of  glory  that  He  would 
not  lay  to  their  charge  this  evil  deed,  that  they  495 
deprived  of  life  a  man  innocent  and  free  from  guile 
through  hate  and  the  teachings  of  Saul. 

'  "And  this  Saul  in  enmity  was  dooming  many  a 
follower  of  Christ  to  torture  and  death,  yet  the  500 
Lord  showed  mercy  unto  him  so  that  he  became  a 
solace  for  many  men.  And  in  after  times  the  God 
of  creation,  Redeemer  of  men,  changed  his  name, 
and  he  was  called  Saint  Paul,  and  of  the  teachers  of  505 
the  law  no  one  of  all  those,  or  man  or  woman  born 
into  the  world,  was  ever  better  than  he  beneath  the 
span  of  the  heavens,  even  though  upon  the  hill  he 
bade  crush  Stephen,  thy  brother,  with  stones.  510 

*  "Now  thou  canst  understand,  my  dear  son,  how 
merciful  is  the  Lord  of  all,  if  we  straightway  purge 
ourselves  of  our  evil  deeds  and  cease  again  from 
the  unrighteous  act,  though  many  times  we  trans-  5 1 5 
gress  against  Him,  and  wound  Him  with  our  sins. 
Wherefore  I,  in  sooth,  and  in  after  times  my  dear 
father,  believed  that  the  God  of  all  glory,  Giver  of 
life,  suffered  bitter  agony  for  the  surpassing  need  520 
of  mankind.     And  now  I  counsel  thee  in  secret,  my 
dear  son,  that  thou  never  offer  scorn,  nor  blasphemy, 
nor  wrathful  opposition  to  the  Son  of  God.     Then  525 
shalt  thou  deserve  that  unto  thee  be  granted  eternal 
life  in  heaven,  the  best  reward  of  victory.'* ' 


20  ELENE. 

\        Thus  in  days  of  yore,  while  I  was  still  a  youth, 
my  father  instructed  me,  and  taught  me  with  these 

53otrue  words,  a  man  wise  in  sorrow — Simon  was  his 
name.  And  now  that  ye  know  my  heart  and  mind, 
ye  perceive  clearly  what  ye  had  best  declare  if  the 

535  queen  ask  us  concerning  that  tree/ 

And  the  wisest  spake  together  before  the  assembly 
in  these  words: — 'Never  heard  we  any  other  man 

540  save  now  thee  declare  thus  among  this  people  con- 
cerning such  a  hidden  thing.  Act  as  thou  thinkest, 
O  thou  wise  in  the  lore  of  old,  if  thou  art  ques- 
tioned among  the  multitude,  for  there  is  need  of  wis- 
dom, of  artful  words,  and  the  learning  of  a  seer,  that 

545  shall  give  answer  to  this  noble  woman  before  such  a 

throng  met  together.' 

y        Then  words  increased:    men  thought,  reflected, 

and  pondered  on  either  side,  some  this  way  and 

some  that.     And  there  came  a  band  of  thanes  to 

5 50 the  assembly;  and  heralds,  messengers  of  Caesar, 
trumpeted : — 'O  ye  counselors,  the  queen  doth  sum- 
mon you  unto  the  royal  hall,  that  ye  may  show 
forth  rightly  the  judgments  of  your  synod.  Ye 
have  need  of  prudence  in  the  council,  of  wisdom  in 

555  mind.*  And  they,  the  leaders  of  the  people,  grieved 
in  soul,  were  ready  as  they  were  summoned  by  the 
bitter  edict,  and  went  unto  the  palace  to  show  forth 
the  power  of  craft. 

Then  the  queen  spake  unto  the  Hebrews  and  asked 

560  them,  their  hearts  sorely  burdened,  how  once  the 
prophets,  holy  men,  sang  in  the  world  concerning 
the  Son  of  God ;  and  where  the  Lord  suffered,  true 
Son  of  the  Creator,  for  the  love  of  souls.     But  they 

565  were  obdurate  and  mute  as  stones,  nor  would  they 
show  forth  the  true  secret,  nor  in  the  hardness  of 


ELENE.  21 

their  hearts  would  they  give  any  answer  to  what 
she  sought  of  them,  but,  set  in  purpose,  they  with- 
stood each  word  that  she  asked,  and  said  that  never  5  7^ 
in  their  Hves  had  they  heard,  before  nor  since,  one 
whit  of  any  such  thing. 

Then  Elene  spake  and  answered  them  in  anger : — 
*I  shall  say  unto  you  truly,  and  never  in  your  life 
will  this  be  false,  that  if  ye  who  stand  before  me  575 
persist  long  in  this  falsehood  with  lying  craft,  ye 
shall  be  burned  upon  the  hill  in  the  hottest  fury  of 
fire,  and  leaping  flames  shall  consume  your  flesh,  so 
that  for  you  this  lie  shall  be  changed  into  utter  de-  580 
struction.  Nor  can  ye  prove  those  words  which  now 
in  your  guile  ye  cover  up  under  the  cloak  of  evil. 
Ye  cannot  hide  the  deed,  nor  conceal  its  mystic 
power.' 


10.     Elene  and  Judas. 

Then   were  they   in   the   fear   of   death,   of  the 
funeral-pyre,  and  the  end  of  life;    and  there  they  585 
thrust  forth  one  of  exceeding  wisdom  in  the  lore 
of  old,  whose  name  was  Judas,  sprung  from  noble 
lineage;    and  they  gave  him  up  unto  the  queen, 
and  called  him  a  man  of  wondrous  learning:     'He 
can  show  forth  to  thee  the  truth,  unlock  the  secret 
of  the  fates,  expound  the  just  law  from  the  begin-  590 
ning  even  to  the  end,  according  as  thou  dost  ask 
him.     He  is  of  noble  race  in  the  world,  wise  in 
speech,  the  son  of  a  prophet,  outspoken  in  council. 
And  it  is  his  nature  to  have  sage  answers  and  wis- 
dom of  soul.     He  shall  show  forth  to  thee  before  595 
the  multitude  with  his  great  power  the  gift  of  wis- 
dom, even  as  thy  heart  desireth.' 


22  ELENE. 

Then  she  let  each  man  seek  his  own  home  in  peace, 

600  and  took  Judas  alone  as  hostage.  And  she  ear- 
nestly bade  him  tell  the  truth  concerning  the  cross, 
which  had  been  long  buried  in  a  secret  place.  Then 
Elene,  the  glorious  queen,  drew  him  aside  by  him- 

605  self,  and  thus  spake  to  the  lonely  man : — Two  ways 
are  ready  for  thee,  either  life  or  death,  whichso- 
ever thou  shalt  please  to  choose.  Declare  quickly 
now  which  one  thou  wilt  accept.' 

And  Judas  made  answer  unto  her — nor  could  he 
rid  himself  of  sorrow  and  turn  away  the  wrath  of 

610  his  ruler,  but  he  was  in  the  power  of  the  queen — : 
'How  shall  it  be  with  him  who  treadeth  the  moor 
in  a  desert,  weary,  without  food,  and  tortured 
with  hunger,  if  before  his  eyes  a  loaf  and  a  stone 
together  seem  hard  and  soft,  and  he  knoweth  them 

615  not  apart,  but  taketh  the  stone  to  ward  off  his 
hunger,  and  marketh  not  the  loaf,  turneth  to  want 
and  forsaketh  the  food,  refuseth  the  better  when 
he  hath  the  choice  of  both  ?' 

Then  openly  before  the  people  the  blessed  Elene 

620 gave  him  answer: — Tf  thou  wouldst  have  thy  life 
in  the  world  and  a  home  with  the  angels  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  the  reward  of  victory  in  the 
sky,  tell  me  straightway  where  the  holy  rood  of 

625  the  King  of  glory  lieth  under  the  earth,  which  ye 
have  hid  now  for  a  while  from  men  because  of  the 
unrighteous  murder.' 

Judas  answered,  and  his  heart  was  heavy  within 
him;    there  was  grief  in  his  soul,  and  woe  either 

630  way,  whether  thus  he  forsook  the  joy  of  the 
heavenly  realm  and  this  present  kingdom  beneath 
the  skies,  or  disclosed  the  rood: — 'How  can  I 
reveal  that  which  came  to  pass  so  long  ago  in  the 


ELENE.  23 

course  of  years  ?  Two  hundred  or  more  in  number 
are  now  vanished  away — I  know  not  the  sum  of  635 
them,  and  I  cannot  declare  the  event.  Many  of 
wisdom,  of  virtue,  and  of  learning,  who  were  before 
our  time,  are  told  among  the  dead.  In  days  long 
after  was  I  born,  and  in  my  childhood,  and  in  my 
youth.  I  may  not  discover  in  my  heart  that  which  640 
I  know  not,  and  which  came  to  pass  so  long  ago.' 

Then  Elene  bespake  him  in  answer: — 'Whence 
cometh  it  that  ye  bear  in  mind  so  many  things, 
every  wondrous  deed,  such  as  those  which  the  Tro-  645 
jans  wrought  in  battle?  That  far-famed  war  of 
old  was  further  in  the  course  of  years  than  this 
holy  event,  and  yet  ye  know  that  fully,  how  to 
declare  at  once  the  number  of  all  that  were  slain  650 
there,  and  of  the  spearmen  who  fell  in  death  be- 
neath their  shields.  Ye  set  forth  in  writing  the 
tombs  beneath  the  rocky  cliffs,  and  likewise  the 
places  and  the  tale  of  years.' 

Then  Judas  answered — ^he  suffered  bitter  grief  165  5 
— 'We  are  mindful  of  that  war  from  very  need,  my 
dear  lady,  and  we  set  forth  in  writing  the  fierce 
strife  and  the  deeds  of  the  nations,  but  never  have 
we  heard  this  declared  unto  men  from  the  mouth  660 
of  any  save  here  and  now.' 

And  the  noble  queen  gave  him  answer: — 'Too 
mightily  dost  thou  withstand  the  truth  and  the  right 
concerning  the  tree  of  life,  insomuch  as  thou  spak-  665 
est  verily  of  the  rood  of  victory  before  thine  own 
people  but  a  little  time  ago,  and  now  dost  turn 
to  falsehood.' 

Judas  again  spake  unto  her,  and  said  that  he 
uttered  those  words  in  sorrow  and  exceeding  doubt, 
that  he  had  weened  bitter  hardship  for  himself. 


.^^^TrT 


-TV*' 


.^^^r 


24  ELENE. 

Quickly  the  kinswoman  of  Caesar  answered  him : 

670 — 'Lo!  we  have  heard  it  declared  unto  men  from 
the  holy  book  that  the  noble  Child  of  the  King,  the 
Son  of  God,  was  crucified  on  Calvary.  Thou  shalt 
reveal  thy  knowledge  perfectly  concerning  the  field 

675  where  this  place  Calvary  is,  according  to  the  teach- 

j  ing  of  the  Scriptures,  ere  death  and  utter  destruction 
snatch  thee  away  for  thy  sins,  that  I  may  thereafter 
cleanse  the  cross  to  be  a  solace  for  men,  according 
to  the  will  of  Christ.     Thus  shall  the  Holy  God, 

680  the  Lord  Almighty,  Glory-giver  of  hosts  and  Helper 
of  souls,  fulfill  for  me  my  desire  and  my  inmost 
longing.' 

But  with  stubborn  heart  Judas  answered  her: — 
*I  know  not  the  place,  nor  aught  of  the  field,  nor 

Y     know  I  the  event.' 

685  Then  Elene  spake  with  wrath  in  her  heart: — *I 
swear  by  the  Son  of  the  Creator,  by  the  crucified 
God,  that  thou  shalt  be  starved  to  death  before  the 
people  of  thine  own  race,  save  thou  forsake  this 

690  falsehood  and  fully  declare  unto  me  the  truth.' 

Then  she  bade  men  take  him  alive,  and  throw 
him,  guilty  as  he  was,  into  a  dried-up  well — nor  did 
her  subjects  hesitate.  And  there,  joyless  and  fam- 
ished, weighed  down  with  chains,  was  he  to  abide 
in  his  grief  for  the  space  of  seven  nights.     And 

695  upon  the  seventh  day,  weakened  by  sorrow,  weary, 
and  without  food — his  strength  was  broken — ^he 
began  to  call  aloud: — T  beseech  you  by  the  God 

700  of  the  heavens  that  ye  release  me  from  this  misery, 
for  I  am  brought  low  by  the  pangs  of  starvation. 
Joyfully  will  I  show  forth  the  holy  tree — no  longer 
can  I  hide  it  now  by  reason  of  my  hunger.  This 
durance  is  too  fearful,  this  need  too  great,  and  this 


ELENE.  25 

torture  too  bitter  day  by  day.     No  longer  can  I  705 
endure  to  suffer,  and  conceal  my  knowledge  con- 
cerning the  tree  of  life,  though  before  I  was  filled 
with  folly,  and  confess  the  truth  too  late/ 

II.     The  Finding  of  the  Crosses. 

When  she  who  there  held  sway  over  the  heroes 
understood  the  changed  bearing  of  the  man,  she  710 
straightway    bade    release    him    from    his    prison, 
his  dungeon,  his  narrow  cell.     Then  quickly  they 
did  so,  and  took  him  out  of  the  pit  with  care,  as 
the  queen  had  bidden  them.     And  they  resolutely  7 1 S 
took  their  way  to  that  place  upon  the  hill  where 
the  Lord  was  crucified  on  the  cross,  the  Son  of 
God  and  Prince  of  the  heavenly  realm.     Weakened 
by  hunger,  he  knew  not  yet  clearly  where  through  720 
the  wiles  of  the  devil  the  holy  rood  lay  hid  beneath 
the  earth,  nor  where  it' rested  in  its  tomb,  safe  in  a 
secret  place,  long  hidden  from  men. 

After  a  little  while  he  lifted  up  his  voice  with 
unwonted  power  and  spake  in  Hebrew : — 'O  Lord  72  5 
Jesus,  thou  who  dost  possess  the  power  of  judgment,       \^^^...4^ 
thou  who  didst  form  the  heaven  and  the  earth  and 
the  sea,  the  broad  expanse  of  waters,  and  all  created 
things,  by  the  might  of  thy  glory;   thou  who  didst 
measure  out  with  thine  own  hands  all  the  sphere  of  730 
this  earth  and  of  the  firmament  above;    thou  who 
dost  sit  in  person,  the  King  of  victories,  over  the 
most  glorious  angel-kind;    thou  who  in  a  mantle 
of   light    dost    fare   through    space   in    surpassing 
majesty,  the  nature  of  man  cannot  rise  in  the  flesh  735 
from  the  earth-tainted  ways  unto  the  bright  throng 
of  the  pure,  the  heralds  of  glory.     Thou  didst  form 


26  ELENE. 

that  host,  holy  and  heavenly,  and  didst  ordain  it 

740  unto  thy  service.     Six  of  their  number  are  called 
by  name  in  joy  without  end,  and  they  are  clothed       ( 
about  with  six  wings;  they  are  adorned,  and  gleam 
brightly.      And   there  are   four    of   their    number 

745  ever  in   flight  that  perform  the  service  of  glory 
before  the  sight  of  the  eternal  Judge,  and  they  con-      ' 
tinually  sing  in  holiness  with  clear  voices  the  laud 
of  the  King  of  heaven,  fairest  of  songs,  and  they 

750  chant  these  words   in  pure  tones — their  name  is 
^cherubim: — ''Holy  is   the  holy   God  of  the  arch- 
angels, the  Lord  of  hosts.     Heaven  and  earth  are 
full  of  His  majesty,  and  all  His  exceeding  might  is 
marked  with  His  glory."     And  there  are  two  among     -^ 

755  their  number  in  the  heavens,  the  victorious  race, 
whereon    man   bestoweth   the   name   of    seraphim.  ,.^ 
With  flaming  sword  they  are  to  keep  sacred  the  field 
of   Paradise   and  the   tree   of   life.     And    fast   in 
their  grasp  the  drawn  sword,  sharp  of  edge,  quivers, 

760  trembles,  and  changes  its  hue.  For  thou  dost  rule, 
O  Lord  God,  eternally,  and  thou  didst  hurl  thy  sin- 
stained  foes,  the  workers  of  iniquity,  from  the 
heavens,   and  the  unhappy  host   fell  to  the  dark 

765  abodes,  into  the  pains  of  hell.  There  now  they  suf- 
fer the  agony  of  death  in  a  sea  of  fire,  encompassed 
about  with  darkness,  in  the  embrace  of  the  dragon. 
He  withstood  thy  kingly  rule,  and  therefore  in 
misery,   abhorred,  the  vilest  of  the  vile,   shall  he 

770  suffer  and  endure  the  servile  yoke.  He  cannot  there 
neglect  thy  commandment;  he  is  fettered  in  torture, 
bound  in  agony,  the  author  of  all  sin.  If  it  be  thy 
will,  O  King  of  angels,  that  He  who  was  on  the 

775  cross,  and  was  born  of  Mary  into  the  world  in  the 
form  of  a  child,  the  Lord  of  the  heavenly  host,  shall 


ELENE.  27 

rule — and  were  He  not  thy  Son,  free  from  guile, 
never  could   He  have   wrought  such   a  multitude 
of    true    miracles    day    after    day    in   the    world;  7^^ 
nor  wouldst  thou,  O  Lord  of  the  peoples,  so  glori- 
ously have  raised  Him  from  the  dead  before  the 
nations,  were  He  nor  thy  Son  in  glory  by  that  holy       , 
maid — then  do  thou,  O  Father  of  angels,  now  show       S^. 
forth  thy  sign.     Even  as  thou,  didst  hearken  unto  785 
the  words  of  that  holy  seer,  Moses,  in  prayer,  when 
thou,  O  God  of  power,  didst  reveal  unto  the  noble 
man  in  due  time  the  bones  of  Joseph  beneath  the    ^^ 
mountain-side,  so  would  I,  O  God  of  hosts,  if  it  be 
thy  will,  beseech  thee  in  the  name  of  that  fair  being  790 
that  thou,  Creator  of  souls,  wilt  disclose  unto  me 
this  treasure-house  that  long  has  been  hidden  from 
men.     Do  thou  now,  O  Prince  of  life,  let  rise  up 
beneath  the  span  of  the  heavens  from  this  smil-  795 
ing  field  a  misty  smoke.     Then  shall  I  trust  in  thee 
better,  and  the  more  firmly  establish  my  soul  in 
undoubting  joy  upon  the  crucified  Christ,  that  He 
is  truly  the  Saviour  of  souls,  eternal,  omnipotent, 
and  King  of  the  Israelites,  and  that  He  shall  rule  800 
for  ever  in  glory  without  end  the  everlasting  dwell- 
ings in  the  heavens.' 

Then  from  that  place  a  mist  rose  up  beneath  the 
skies,  like  unto  smoke.  Thereupon  was  the  soul 
of  the  man  exalted,  and  he  clapped  his  hands  unto  805 
the  heavens,  wise  and  blessed.  And  Judas  spake, 
sage  in  thought: — 'Now  have  I  truly  perceived  in 
the  hardness  of  my  heart  that  thou  art  the  Saviour 
of  the  world.  Thanksgiving  without  end  be  thine,  810 
O  God  of  might,  who  sittest  in  majesty,  that  unto 
me  in  my  misery  and  my  sin  thou  dost  uncover  the 
secrets  of  the  fates  by  thy  glory.      Now  I  would 


28  ELENE. 

pray  thee,  O  Son  of  God,  Giver  of  gifts  to  men, 

8 1 5  inasmuch  as  I  know  thou  art  revealed  and  born  the 
Glory  of  all  kings,  that  thou  never  more  be  mindful 
of  my  guilt,  O  my  Creator,  which  I  have  wrought 
not  a  few  times  against  thee.     Let  me,  O  God  of 

820  power,  dwell  with  holy  joy  among  the  number  of 
the  kingdom  in  that  fair  city  where  my  brother  is 
exalted  in  glory,  for  he,  Stephen,  held  covenant  with 
thee,  even  though  he  was  stoned.      He  hath  the 

825  reward  of  the  fight,  joy  unceasing,  and  the  wonders 
that  he  wrought  are  set  forth  in  books.' 

Then,  glad  and  zealous,  he  digged  in  the  earth 
under  the  sod  for  the  tree  of  glory  until  he  uncov- 
ered and  came  upon  three  crosses  together  in  a 

830  mournful  home,  hid  twenty  feet  below,  concealed 
in  their  dark  grave  beneath  the  steep  cliff,  and  cov- 

835  ered  over  with  sand,  even  as  in  days  of  yore  the 
host  of  the  sinful,  the  race  of  the  Jews,  had  clothed 
them  over  with  earth.  They  stirred  up  hatred 
against  the  Son  of  God,  as  they  would  not  have 
done  had  they  not  hearkened  to  the  teachings  of 
the  prince  of  evil. 

840  And  his  soul  was  gladdened  with  great  joy,  and 
his  heart  strengthened  by  that  holy  tree,  and  his 
spirit  exalted  within  him  as  he  beheld  the  holy  sign 
in  the  earth.  With  his  hands  he  seized  upon  the 
wondrous  tree  of  glory,  and  in  the  midst  of  the 

845  people  raised  it  aloft  from  its  earthy  grave.  Then 
strangers  and  heroes  entered  into  the  town. 


ELENE.  29 

12.     The  Miracle  of  the  True  Cross. 

Thereupon  the  glad  and  zealous  man  set  forth 
the  three  trees  of  victory  before  Elene  in  open  view.  850 
The  queen  rejoiced  in  her  heart  at  the  deed,  and 
asked  on  which  of  th^^se  trees  the  Son  of  the  King, 
Giver  of  joy  to  men,  was  crucified:  'Lo!  we  heard 
it  declared  from  the  holy  book  that  two  suffered 
with  Him,  and  He  Himself  was  the  third  on  the  855 
cross.  All  the  heavens  grew  dark  in  that  woful 
hour.  Say,  if  thou  knowest,  on  which  of  these 
trees  the  Lord  of  angels  and  Prince  of  glory  suf- 
fered.' 

But  Judas  could  not  declare  unto  her  fully  con-  860 
cerning  that  tree  of  victory,  on  which  the  Saviour, 
the  conquering  Son  of  God,  was  hung,  for  he  wist 
it  not  assuredly.     Then  he  bade  set  the  crosses  with 
tumult  in  the  midst  of  the  fair  city,  there  to  abide  865 
until  the  King  Almighty  should  show  forth  a  mira- 
cle before  the  people  through  that  tree  of  glory. 
With  souls  uplifted  in  their  victory,  they  sat  them- 
selves   down    about   the    rood,    and    with    earnest 
thought  raised  their  voices  in  song  until  the  ninth 
hour,  when  they  had  new  joy,  gloriously  gained.  870 
For  many  came   there,   no   small   multitude,    and 
among  the  press  of  men  close  by  on  a  bier  they 
brought  one  who  was  dead,  a  young  man,  lifeless;       • 
and  it  was  the  ninth  hour. 

And  there  was  the  heart  of  Judas  gladdened  with  875 
great  joy.     He  bade  them  set  down  upon  the  earth 
him  whose  soul  had  fled,  the  body  forsaken  of  life,     \ 
the  dead  man,  and  he  himself,  wise  and  earnest 
revfeler  of  truth,  raised  up  in  his  arms  two  of  those  880 
crosses  over  the  lifeless  frame.     But  the  body,  fast 


30  ELENE. 

on  its  couch,  was  dead  as  before.  The  limbs  were 
cold,    enwrapped   with  their   dire  fate.     Then  the 

885  third,  the  holy  one,  was  raised  aloft.  The  body 
waited  until  the  rood,  the  cross  of  the  King  of 
heaven,  the  true  sign  of  victory,  was  laid  upon  the 
man;  then  he  straightway  rose  up,  restored  in  spirit, 

890  both  body  and  soul  together.  And  there  w^as  great 
laud  raised  among  the  people;  they  revered  the 
Father,  and  honored  the  true  Son  of  the  King  in 
their  speech.  To  Him  be  glory  and  thanksgiving 
without  end  from  all  creatures. 


13.     Judas  and  the  Devil. 

895  Then,  as  ever  should  be,  was  the  miracle  which 
the  Lord  of  hosts.  Giver  of  life,  had  wrought  for 
the  salvation  of  mankind,  impressed  upon  the  minds 
of  the  people.     But  there  the  fiend,  the  devil  from 

900  hell,  dire  monster  mindful  of  evil,  sinning  with  his 
lies,  rose  up  into  the  air,  flying,  and  spake  thus : — 
*Lo!  what  man  is  this  who  doth  again  in  the 
ancient    enmity    destroy   my    following,   swell   the 

905  olden  hatred,  and  waste  my  possessions?  Continual 
strife  is  this.  No  longer  may  the  souls  of  them 
that  work  evil  dwell  among  my  possessions,  since 
now  a  stranger  hath  come,  whom  I  counted  fast 

910  in  his  sins,  and  hath  robbed  me  of  my  every  right 
and  of  all  my  wealth.  This  is  not  a  just  deed. 
The  Saviour,  who  was  raised  up  in  Nazareth,  hath 
done  me  many  an  evil,  acts  of  deep  hatred.     As  he 

915  grew  up  from  childhood,  he  ever  turned  to  himself 
my  possessions,  nor  now  can  any  justice  succeed 
[against  him].  His  kingdom  is  broad  over  the 
world,  while  my  teaching  is  weakened  beneath  the 


ELENE.  31 

heavens.     I  dare  not  despise  this  cross  with  scoffing 
laugh.     Lo !    the  Saviour  hath  again  shut  me  into  920    ^ 
my  narrow  home,  smitten  with  woe.     Once  I  was 
filled  with  joy  by  a  Judas:    but  now,  again  by  a 
Judas,   am   I  humbled,  bereft  of  possessions,   ab- 
horred, and  f riendless.*"  But  I  know  how  to  discover  92  5 
again  by  my  sin  a  way  of  return  hereafter  from 
the  home  of  the  damned.     I  shall  incite  against  thee 
another  king  who  shall  persecute  thee,  and  shall 
forsake    thy    teaching    and    follow    my    ways    of  930 
evil;    then  will  he  cast  thee  into  the  darkest  and 
worst  of  terrors,  that  thou,  racked  with  pain,  mayst 
vehemently  renounce  the  crucified  King,  whom  thou 
didst  formerly  obey.' 

Then   the    wise    Judas,    daring   hero    in    strife,  935 
answered  him  (the  Holy  Spirit  was  granted  unto 
him  with  strength,  a  love  hot  as  fire,  a  knowledge 
welling  up  through  the  learning  of  a  warrior)  ;  and 
he  spake  this  word,   filled  with  wisdom: — 'Thou 
needst  not  so  mightily,  ever  mindful  of  evil,  renew  940 
sorrow  and  enkindle  strife,  O  sinful  prince  of  mur- 
der, inasmuch  as  the  mighty  King,  who  hath  awak- 
ened with  His  word  many  of  the  dead,  doth  thrust 
thee  into  the  nether  depths,  thou  worker  of  iniquity,  945 
into  the  abyss  of  torture,  bereft  of  joy.     Know  thou 
full   clearly  that  thou   in   folly   didst  forsake  the 
brightest  of  lights  and  the  love  of  the  Lord  and  that 
glorious  faith,  and  that  thou  hast  since  dwelt  in  a  950 
bath  of  fire,  burdened  with  tortures  and  seared  with 
flame,  and  that  there,  with  hatred  in  thy  soul,  thou 
shalt  ever  suffer  woe  and  misery  without  end.' 

Elene  heard  how  the  foe  and  the  friend  struggled 
together,  the  glorious  and  the  foul  on  opposite  sides,  95  5 
the  sinful  and  the  blessed.     And  she  was  the  gladder 


32  ELENE. 

in  heart  as  she  heard  that  the  helHsh  enemy,  the 
Prince  of  evil,  was  vanquished;  she  marveled  at 
the   wisdom   of   the   man,   how   in   so   little   time 

960  he  was  so  filled  with  faith,  and  how  he  who  had 
ever  been  so  ignorant  was  imbued  with  knowledge. 
And  she  thanked  God,  the  King  of  glory,  that 
through  the  Son  of  God  the  joy  of  both  these  things 

965  was  come  unto  her — on  the  one  hand  at  the  sight 
of  the  tree  of  victory,  and  on  the  other  at  this 
faith  which  she  so  clearly  understood  as  a  glorious 
gift  in  the  breast  of  this  man. 


14.     The  Embassy  to  Constantine. 

Then  was  the  fair  news  of  the  morning  manifest 
among  the  nation,  spread  far  throughout  the  people, 

970  to  the  vexation  of  many  who  would  keep  secret  the 
law  of  the  Lord.  It  was  heralded  through  the  cities, 
as  far  as  the  sea  embosoms  the  land,  through  every 
town,  that  the  rood  of  Christ,  buried  of  yore  in  the 
earth,  had  been  found,  best  emblem  of  victory  of 

975  them  that  were  raised  aloft  before  or  since,  holy 
beneath  the  heavens.  Unto  the  Jews,  men  of  mis- 
fortune, it  was  a  most  bitter  grief  and  most  hated 
of  fates  that  they  could  change  neither  it  nor  the 

980  joy  of  the  Christians  in  the  world.     Then  the  queen  ^ 
bade   messengers   from   her   noble  company  make  \ 
them  ready  with  haste,  for  they  were  to  seek  the  \ 
lord  of  the  Romans  over  the  deep  sea,  and  declare   ^ 
unto  that  warrior  in  person  the  best  of  glad  tidings — 

985  how  the  tree  of  victory,  that  had  been  hidden  a  long 
time  before  to  grieve  the  holy  ones,  the  Christian 
people,  had  been  discovered  and  found  in  the  earth 
through  the  grace  of  the  Creator. 


ELENE.  33 

Then  was  the  soul  of  the  king  rejoiced  at  that    990 
fair  news,  and  his  heart  filled  with  gladness.     And 
in  the  city  there  was  no  want  of  richly-clad  ques- 
tioners concerning  what  was  come  from  afar.     The 
greatest  comfort  in  the  world,  a  joyful  soul,  was    995 
come  unto  him  at  these  glad  tidings  which  the  mes- 
sengers, leaders  of  the  army,  brought  to  him  over 
the  eastern  ways,  how  the  warriors  with  the  glorious 
queen  had  made  a  prosperous  voyage  over  the  sea 
into  the  land  of  the  Greeks.     The  emperor  bade 
them  prepare  themselves  again  for  the  journey  with  1000 
the  greatest  haste.      The  warriors  made  no  delay 
when  once  they  heard  the  answer,  the  message  of 
the  prince.     He  bade  them,  heroes  hardy  of  soul, 
give  greeting  to  Elene,  renowned  in  war,  if  they 
should   survive   the   sea   and    make   a   prosperous  1005 
voyage  unto  the  holy  city.     And  Constantine  fur- 
thermore bade  the  messengers  charge  her  to  build 
a  church  there  on  the  mountain-slope  for  the  weal     ' 
of  them  both,  a  temple  of  the  Lord  on  Calvary  for  10 10 
the  joy  of   Christ  and  the  solace  of  men,   there 
where  the  holy  rood  was  found,  fairest  of  all  trees 
the  dwellers  on  earth  have  ever  known.  1015 


15.     The  Building  of  the  Temple. 

And  thus  she  did  when  her  friends  brought  many 
a  kind  greeting  over  the  fastness  of  waters  from  the 
west.  Then  the  queen  bade  seek  far  and  near  those 
skilled  in  the  arts,  the  best  of  those  who  could  work 
most  wondrously  in  the  laying  of  stone  upon  stone, 
that  they  might  raise  a  temple  of  God  upon  that 
place.  As  the  Lord  of  spirits  counseled  her  from 
the  heavens,  she  bade  deck  out  the  rood  with  gold 


020 


34  ELENE. 

1025  and  with  gems,  adorn  it  most  artfully  with  precious 
stones ;  then  to  seal  it  with  locks  in  a  casket  of  sil- 
ver. There  hath  the  rood  of  life,  best  tree  of 
victory,  dwelt  since  then,  indestructible  in  its  noble- 

i03Qness.  There  shall  it  be  ever  ready,  a  solace  for 
the  ill  of  any  disease,  affliction,  or  sorrow.  Then 
straightway  shall  men  find  aid  and  divine  grace 
through  that  holy  form. 


16.     The  Conversion  of  Judas. 

Then  after  a  little  space  Judas  received  the  bath 

1035  of  baptism,  and,  cleansed  [of  his  sins],  was  true  to 
Christ,  dear  to  the  Lord  of  life.  His  faith  was 
steadfast  in  his  heart  when  the  Spirit  of  comfort 
had  taken  up  his  dwelling  in  the  breast  of  the  man, 
and  had  urged  him  unto  repentance.     He  chose  the 

1040  better  course,  the  gladness  of  glo,ry,  and  forsook  the 
worse,  the  way  of  the  idolater,  and  cast  aside  his 
heresy,  the  law  of  unrighteousness.     God,  the  eter-\ 
nal   King,   Creator,   and  Wielder   of   power,   was  ) 
gracious  unto  him. 

Then   he    was   baptized    who    many   times    had 

1045  scorned  the  light;  .  .  }  his  heart  was  inspired 
unto  the  better  life;  he  was  turned  unto  glory. 
Verily  fate  decreed  that  he  should  become  thus  filled 
with  faith,  thus  dear  unto  God  and  beloved  of  Christ 

1050  in  the  kingdom  of  the  world.  This  was  made  mani- 
fest when  Elene  bade  bring  unto  the  holy  city 
Eusebius,  the  bishop  of  Rome,  exceeding  wise  amid 
the  councils  of  men,  to  aid  in  her  deliberation,  and 

1055  to  ordain  Judas  into  the  priesthood  at  Jerusalem 
as  bishop   for  the  people  in  the  cities,  prudently 

*  A  manuscript  lacuna. 


OF 


ELENE.  35 


chosen  through  the  grace  of  the  Spirit  for  the  tem- 
ple of  God.     And  in  later  times  upon  a  new  occa-  i^ 
sion  she  wisely  named  him  Cynacus.     Henceforth  1060 
the  name  of  the  man  was  changed  for  the  better 
throughout  the  cities^The  law  of  the  Lord'. 


17.     The  Finding  of  the  Nails. 

Then  again  was  the  mind  of  Elene  concerned 
about  that  fair  mystery  with  regard  to  the  nails  1065 
which  pierced  the  feet  and  hands  of  the  Saviour, 
wherewith  the  King  of  the  heavens,  the  mighty 
Prince,  was  bound  upon  the  cross.  The  queen  of 
the  Christians  began  to  ask  concerning  them.  She 
bade  Cyriacus  that  he,  through  the  might  of  the  1070 
Holy  Spirit,  fulfil  her  desire  still  further  regarding 
the  wondrous  mystery,  and  that  he  unlock  the  secret 
by  his  holy  grace.  And  she  spake  this  word  unto 
*the  bishop — boldly  she  addressed  him : — *0  bulwark 
of  heroes,  thou  didst  rightly  show  forth  unto  me  1075 
that  noble  tree,  the  cross  of  the  heavenly  King, 
whereon  by  heathen  hands  was  crucified  God's  own 
Son,  the  Helper  of  souls,  the  Saviour  of  men.  Now 
further  the  longing  for  knowledge  doth  make  me 
mindful  of  the  nails.  I  would  thou  shouldst  find  1080 
those  that  are  hidden,  buried  deep  in  the  earth  and 
shrouded  in  darkness:-^ ver  doth  my  heart  mourn, 
sorrow  in  sadness,  and  rest  not,  until  the  Father 
Almighty,  the  Lord  of  hosts  and  Saviour  of  men, 
the  Holy  One  from  on  high,  shall  fulfill  unto  me  my  1085 
desire  through  the  finding  of  these  nails.  Now 
with  all  reverence  do  thou  forthwith,  O  best  of 
mediators,  send  up  thy  petition  unto  that  glorious 
Being,  unto  the  King  of  majesty.     Do  thou  pray  1090 


36  ELENE. 

the  Glory  of  men  that  He,  Almighty  King,  show 

forth  unto  thee  the  treasure  beneath  the  earth  that 

still  lieth  hidden,  secret  and  concealed  from  men/ 

Then  the  holy  man,  inspired  in  heart,  the  bishop 

1095  of  the  people,  made  steadfast  his  soul,  and  joyfully 
went  forth  with  a  throng  of  men  singing  praises 
unto  God.  Zealously  Cyriacus  bowed  his  head  upon 
Calvary,  nor  made  he  any  secret  of  his  thoughts,  but 

1 1 00  through  the  might  of  the  Holy  Spirit  he  called  upon 
God  with  all  reverence,  and  prayed  the  Lord  of 
angels  to  reveal  the  unknown  mystery  in  his  new 
trouble,  where  in  that  field  he  might  earnestly  seek 
out  the  nails. 

1 105  Then  the  Father,  the  Spirit  of  comfort,  there  as 
they  were  watching,  caused  a  sign  in  the  form  of 
fire  to  rise  up  where  the  precious  nails  were  cun-  l-'-^^- 
ningly  hid  in  the  earth  by  the  devices  of  men. 
,  1 1 10  Forthwith  there  came  a  leaping  flame  brighter  than  \ 
the  sun.  The  people  beheld  a  miracle  shown  forth 
unto  their  queen,  where,  like  unto  the  stars  of  heaven 
or  gems  set  in  gold,  out  of  the  darkness  glittered 

1 1 1 5  the  nails  brightly,  gleaming  from  their  burial-place 
beneath  the  surface  of  the  earth.  The  people  re- 
joiced, the  throng  were  glad  of  heart;  and  they  said 
with  one  accord  that  the  miracle  was  of  God, 
although  hitherto  they  had  been  long  in  heresy  and 
turned    from    Christ,    through    the    death- wielding 

1 120 power  of  the  devil.  Thus  they  spake: — 'Now  do 
we  ourselves  behold  the  sign  of  victory,  the  true 
miracle  of  God,  whom  we  formerly  withstood  with 
falsehood.  Now  is  the  course  of  the  mystery  come 
into  light  and  revealed.     Wherefore  may  the  God  of 

1 12  5  the  heavenly  kingdom  have  glory  in  the  highest.' 


ELENE.  37 

Then  was  the  bishop  of  the  people  rejoiced  anew, 
he  who  had  turned  with  repentance  through  the 
Son  of  God.      Awe-struck  he  took  the  nails,  and  / 
bore  them  unto  the  revered  queen.      Cyriacus  had  1 1 3^ 
fulfilled  all  the  woman's  wish,  even  as  his  noble 
mistress  bade  him.    ^^hen  was  there  the  sound  of 
lamentation,  and  hot  tears  welling  over  their  faces 
— ^yet  not  at  all  for  sorrow;   her  tears  fell  over  the 
nails.     Wondrously  was  the  desire  of  the  queen  f ul-  1 1 3  5 
filled.     With  joyous  faith  she  laid  them  upon  her 
knees,  and,  rejoicing  in  her  happiness,  revered  the 
gift  that  was  brought  unto  her  as  a  solace  for  her 
sadness.     She  gave  thanks  unto  God,  the  Lord  of 
victories,  that  now  she  knew  the  truth  which  had  oft  1 140 
been  foretold  long  before  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world  as  a  comfort  for  the  nations.     She  was  filled 
with  the  grace  of  wisdom,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  of  1145 
heaven  held  the  dwelling  of  her  body,  and  guarded 
her  both  heart  and  soul.     Thus  the  almighty,  vic- 
torious Son  of  God  had  care  for  her  thereafter. 


18.     Elene's  Disposal  of  the  Nails. 

Then  she  began  zealously  through  the  mysteries 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  search  out  the  truth  and  the 
way  to  glory.  Verily  the  Lord  of  hosts.  King  11 50 
Almighty,  gave  aid  that  the  queen  might  win  her 
wish  in  the  world.  From  the  beginning  all  the 
prophecy  was  chanted  in  times  before  by  the  seers 
of  old,  and  thus  it  happened  in  every  respect.  11 55 
Through  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit  the  queen 
zealously  began  to  search  out  with  great  care  where- 
for  she  might  best  and  most  fitly  for  the  solace  of 
men  use  the  nails,  and  what  was  the  will  of  the  11 60    ^"-^^ 


38  ELENE. 

Lord.  Then  bade  she  bring  at  once  unto  a  secret 
council  an  exceeding  wise  man,  who,  learned  in 
mind,  by  his  wise  power  knew  fully  the  rede  of 

1 165  sages;    and  she  began  to  inquire  of  him  what  he  / 
deemed  best  to  be  done  about  this.     And  obediently 
she  chose  his  advice. 

Earnestly  he  answered  her: — 'It  is  fitting  that 
thou   hold   in   thy   heart  the  word   of  the   Lord, 

1 1 70  His  holy  mystery,  O  best  of  queens,  and  zealously 
fulfil  the  bidding  of  the  king,  now  that  God,  Re- 
deemer of  men,  hath  given  unto  thee  good  speed 
for  thy  soul,  and  the  skill  of  wisdom.      Do  thou  " 

1 175  bid  that  these  nails  be  set  upon  the  bridle,  as  a  bit 
for  the  horse  of  the  most  noble  among  castle-ruling 
kings.  It  shall  become  famed  to  many  throughout 
the  world  when  he  shall  overcome  each  of  his 
enemies  thereby  in  the  contest,  as  with  brave  hearts 

1 1 80  and  brandished  swords  they  seek  the  battle  on  either 
side,  and  strive  for  the  mastery  there,  foe  against 
foe.     He  shall  have  good  speed  in  war,  victory  in  I 
battle,  and  peace  everywhere,  the  calm  following  the 

1 185  strife,  who  holds  the  bridle  before  him  upon  a  white 
steed  when  his  trusty  heroes,  far-famed  in  the  fight, 
bear  shield  and  spear  into  the  press  of  weapons. 
For  any  man  shall  this  be  a  guard  invincible 
against   stress   in   war.      Concerning   it    sang  the 

1 1 90  prophet,    wise   in   thought,   his   mind   saw    deeply 

the   understanding  of  wisdom.      These   words   he 

spake : — *Tt  shall  be  known  that  the  horse  of  a  king 

I       is  to  be  in  the  midst  of  brave  heroes,  decked  with 

1 195  bit  and  bridle-rings.  It  shall  be  called  a  holy  sign 
of  God,  and  he  shall  be  hardy  and  honored  in  war 
who  guides  the  horse."  ' 


ELENE.  39 

19.     Conclusion. 

Then  straightway  in  the  presence  of  the  nobles 
Elene  accomplished  all.     She  bade  deck  the  bridle 
of  the  prince,  gift-giver  of  men,  and  unto  her  own 
son  she  sent  the  ^Ibrious  present  over  the  stream  I20(\ 
of  the  ocean  as  an  offering.     Then  she  bade  assem- 
ble together  in  the  town,  in  that  holy  city,  those  ■ . 
whom  she  knew  as  the  best  among  the  Jews,  that    / 
race  of  heroes.     And  the  queen  began  to  teach  the  ^^05 
throng  of  her  dear  subjects  that  they  should  stead- 
fastly hold  to  the  love  of  the  Lord,  and  maintain 
peace  one  with  another,  and  that  they  should  hearken  12 10 
unto  the  lore  of  the  teacher,  and  the  customs  of  the 
Christians,  which  Cyriacus,  wise  in  the  knowledge 
of  books,  should  declare  unto  them.     The  bishop- 
ric  was    well   established.     Often   there   came  to 
him  from  afar  the  lame,  the  halt,  the  weak,  the  1 2 1 5 
maimed,  the  bleeding,  the  leprous,  the  blind,  the 
poor,  the  sad  in  heart,  and  ever  found  they  health 
and  relief  there  at  the  hands  of  their  bishop  during 
all  of  their  life.     And  again  Elene  gave  unto  him 
gifts  of  great  worth  when  she  was  ready  for  the 
journey  back  to  her  own  land,  and  when  she  bade  ^220 
all  those  who  glorified  God  in  that  kingdom,  both 
men  and  women,  to  honor  in  their  thought  with 
heart  and  strength  that  great  day  on  which  the  holy 
rood  was  found,  most  wondrous  tree  of  them  that  1225 
have  grown  up  from  the  earth,  laden  with  leaves. 
And,  save  for  six  nights  ere  the  coming  of  summer 
on  the  kalends  of  May,  the  spring  was  gone.     May 
heirs  portal  be  closed  and  heaven's  opened,  may  the  ^230 
eternal  kingdom  of  the  angels  be  revealed  with  joy 
unceasing,   and  may  their  part  be  assigned  with 


40  ELENE. 

Mary,  to  each  man  who  keepeth  in  memory  the 
1235  most  sacred  festival  of  the  cross  beneath  the  heavens, 
which  the  almighty  King  over  all  protected  with 
his  arm !     Finit. 


20.     Epilogue. 

Old  and  ready  for  death  by  reason  of  this  fail- 
ing house,  I  thus  have  woven  a  web  of  words  and 
wondrously  have  gathered  it  up;  time  and  again 
have  I  pondered  and  sifted  my  thought  in  the  prison 

1240  of  the  night.  I  knew  not  fully  the  truth  concern- 
ing the  cross'  until  wisdom  revealed  a  broader 
knowledge  through  its  marvelous  power  o'er  the 
thought  of  my  heart.     I  was  stained  with  deeds  of 

1245  evil,  fettered  in  sins,  torn  by  doubts,  girt  round  with 
bitter  needs,  until  the  King  of  might  wondrously 
granted  learning  unto  me  as  a  comfort  for  my  old 
age;  until  he  gave  unto  me  his  spotless  grace,  and 
imbued  my  heart  with  it,  revealed  it  as  glorious,  in 

1250  time  broadened  it,  set  free  my  body,  unlocked  my 
heart,  and  loosed  the  power  of  song,  which  joyfully 
and  gladly  I  have  used  in  the  world.  Not  one  time 
alone,  but  often  had  I  thought  upon  the  tree  of 
glory,  before  I  had  the  miracle  revealed  regarding 

1255  the  glorious  tree,  as  in  the  course  of  events  I  found 
related  in  books  and  in  writings  concerning  the  sign 
of  victory.  Ever  until  that  time  was  the  man  buf- 
feted in  the  surge  of  sorrow,  was  he  a  weakly  flar- 
ing torch  (C)^  although  he  had  received  treasures 

1260 and  appled  gold  in  the  mead-hall;    wroth  in  heart 

*  Supplying  rode. 

^  These  letters  are  the  runes  which  spell  out  Cynewulfs  name. 


ELENE.  41 

(Y),  he  mourned;  a  companion  to  need  (N),  he 
suffered  crushing  grief  and  anxious  care,  although 
before,  him  his  horse  (E)  measured  the  miles  and 
proudly  ran,  decked  with  gold.  Hope  (W)  is 
waned,  and  joy  through  the  course  of  years;  youth  1265 
is  fled,  and  the  pride^of  old.  Once  (U)  was  the 
splendor  of  youth  (  ?) ;  now  after  that  alloted  time 
are  the  days  departed,  are  the  pleasures  of  life 
dwindled  away,  as  water  (L)  glideth,  or  the  rush- 
ing floods.  Wealth  (F)  is  but  a  loan  to  each  be-  1270 
neath  the  heavens;  the  beauties  of  the  field  vanish 
away  beneath  the  clouds,  most  like  unto  the  wind 
when  it  riseth  loud  before  men,  roameth  amid  the 
clouds,  courseth  along  in  wrath,  and  then  on  a  sud-  1275 
den  becometh  still,  close  shut  in  its  narrow  prison, 
crushed  by  force. 

Thus  shall  all  this  world  pass  away,  and  in  like 
manner    devouring    flame    shall    seize   upon   who- 
ever  was    born    into    it,    at   that   time   when   the 
Lord   himself  Vith   a   host  of   angels  shall   come  1280 
unto  judgment.      There  shall  each  man  hear  the 
doom  on  all  his  deeds  from  the  mouth  of  the  judge, 
and    likewise   shall   pay    the   penalty    for    all    the 
•~v foolish  w^ords  ever  spoken  by  him,  and  all  his  over-  1285 
bold  thoughts.      Then  shall  the  people  divide  into 
three  parts  for  the  embrace  of  the  flame,  every  mart^-v 
who  hath  ever  lived  throughout  the  broad  earth. 
Those  who  have  clung  fast  to  the  truth  shall  be 
^highest  in  the  flame,  the  throng  of  the  blessed,  the  1290 
—host  of  them  that  yearn  for  glory,  the  multitude  of 
4he  righteous,  and  thus  may  they  endure  and  suffer 
more   lightly   without   distress.      He   tempers    for 
them  all  the  glare  of  the  flame  as  shall  be  most  easy 
for  them  and  most  mild.     The  sinful  men,  those  1295 


/ 


42  ELENE. 

Stained  with  evil,  heroes  sad  of  heart,  shall  be  in  the 

middle  place,  shrouded  with  smoke  amid  the  hot 

surge  of  fire.     The  third  part,  accursed  sinful  foes, 

-false  haters  of  men,  the  host  of  the  wicked,  shall  be 

1300  in  the  depth  of  the  surge,  bound  fast  in  flame  by 
reason  of  their  former  deeds,  in  the  gripe  of  the 
glowing  coals.  Nor  shall  they  come  thereafter 
from  the  place  of  punishment  to  the  memory  of  God, 
King  of  glory,  but  they  shall  be  cast  forth,  His 

1305  wrath-stirring  foes,  from  that  fierce  flame  into  the 
depths  of  hell.  Unlike  this  shall  it  be  with  the 
other  two  parts :  they  may  look  upon  the  Prince  of 
angels,  the  God  of  victories.     They  shall  be  refined 

1 3 1  o  and  freed  from  their  sins,  like  pure  gold  that  is  all , 
cleansed  from  every  alloy,  refined  and  melted  in  the 
surge  of  the  furnace's  fire.     Thus  shall  each  of  those 
men  be  separated  and  purified  from  all  their  guilt, 
their  deep  transgressions,  by  the  fire  of  the  judg- 

iS^Sment.  And  thereafter  they  may  enjoy  peace  and 
eternal  well-being.  The  Lord  of  angels  shall  be 
merciful  and  gracious  unto  them,  inasmuch  as  they 
abhorred  each  sin,  each  work  of  guile,  and  called 
upon  the  Son  of  the  Creator  in  their  prayers. 
Wherefore  now  their  forms  shall  shine  like  unto  the 

1320  angels,  and  they  shall  enjoy  the  heritage  of  the  King 
of  glory  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 


y 


/ 


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